Amorphophallus konjac will bloom!

From: ManFont at aol.com on 1999.05.20 at 14:44:09(3377) Hello all, In one season I got 2 A. konjacs to go from a garlic clove sized tuber to a large grapefruit, and they are both beginning to producing a bloom. Do I get any award for this, or must I except the intriguing, otherworldly smelly large flower as my sufficient reward ;-) I'm pleased as these were my first Amorphophallus - being a neophyte and all. I will photograph them if all goes well. I wonder if I place one of these in my front yard if my neighbors will 'freak out'...yes, that sounds like an interesting scenario. +More Regards, to all who have assisted me in my first year, and ameliorated my concerns. Luis Fontanills Miami, Florida USA

From: "Clark Weston" <bk161 at rgfn.epcc.edu> on 1999.05.20 at 19:12:12(3378) Hello Fellow Stinker Lovers: I would say that Luis' performance with Konjac has made me really jealous because mine never grow like that. I suggest that we nominate him for the Big Stink award. Ah, but that will probably go to an A amorphophallus. Well, maybe the stinkiest fastest trophy? ;-)) All kidding aside, how do you do it, Luis? Tell us your secrets. Regards to all, Clark Weston +More USDA Zone 8 El Paso, Texas join our mailing list http://www.onelist.com/subscribe/ADENIUM ---------- > > Hello all, > > In one season I got 2 A. konjacs to go from a garlic clove sized tuber to a > large grapefruit, and they are both beginning to producing a bloom. Do I get > any award for this, or must I except the intriguing, otherworldly smelly > large flower as my sufficient reward ;-) > I'm pleased as these were my first Amorphophallus - being a neophyte and all. > > I will photograph them if all goes well. I wonder if I place one of these in > my front yard if my neighbors will 'freak out'...yes, that sounds like an > interesting scenario. > > Regards, to all who have assisted me in my first year, and ameliorated my > concerns. > > Luis Fontanills > Miami, Florida USA > >

From: ManFont at aol.com on 1999.05.21 at 15:38:56(3380) In a message dated 5/20/99 3:12:57 PM Eastern Daylight Time, bk161@rgfn.epcc.edu writes: << Hello Fellow Stinker Lovers: +More I would say that Luis' performance with Konjac has made me really jealous because mine never grow like that. I suggest that we nominate him for the Big Stink award. Ah, but that will probably go to an A amorphophallus. Well, maybe the stinkiest fastest trophy? ;-))>> Thank you Clark, for nominating me for the stink award ;-) < Regards to all, Clark Weston USDA Zone 8 El Paso, Texas >> Clark, I'll go into it in detail tomorrow, so you'll have to remain in suspense for now ;-) Regards! Luis Fontanills Miami, Florida USA

From: "Walter Greenwood" <walter at radserv.arad.upmc.edu> on 1999.05.21 at 22:19:09(3384) Gentle readers, With all due respect and admiration for Mr. Fontanills, the gentleman lives in Miami, for crying out loud! One can root cuttings in Miami by nailing them to the side of the house that would take me chemicals, exotic media, expensive metal halide lighting, humidifiers, RO filtration, and weeks of babysitting here in Pennsylvania. I have to work hard to keep Gonatopus alive. Waaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh! (I'm crying out loud.) I've put off visiting southern Florida for 30 years for fear that I would never be able to tear myself away and return home. Kindest envious regards, and sincere congratulations ;-) Walter Greenwood +More University of Pittsburgh > < -- Quidquid Latine dictum sit, altum viditur.

From: plantnut at macconnect.com (Dewey Fisk) on 1999.05.23 at 03:53:48(3386) To Walter Greenwood..... Walter, you are also welcome to visit ... And, you are right, South Florida is great! Dewey +More Dewey E. Fisk, Plant Nut THE PHILODENDRON PHREAQUE Your Source for Tropical Araceae Go to

From: Betsytrips at aol.com on 1999.05.23 at 04:00:22(3388) Perhaps Walter one can look about and glean the rewards and innovations of others in other areas and then apply and alter to one's own benefit. I too live in an area of the country where it is cold in the winter and hot in the summer. I have found by being willing to look, listen and observe, one can make adjustments that make it easier to grow that which we wish to grow. And yes, it can be expensive and at times, difficult. The rewards can be great. I have found that I can grow things that they in south Florida say they cannot. I do believe that often the attitude is the determining factor. One non success does not necessarily make a failure. Try and try again until one comes to the conclusion, for now, this is not in the successful agenda. I know Julius seemed amazed that I had grown dracontium from seed. I was shocked that he could be surprised. I had no problem. Would I have tried if I had known that it was 'impossible' to do? I did not know it was impossible and low and behold, I have done it many times. You see, look at the glass half full and you can learn that what you don't know at times can be to your benefit. Believe. Do without expectations. Go with the intuition. Amazing things happen! Good growing with much joy. Betsy

From: "Julius Boos" <ju-bo at email.msn.com> on 1999.05.23 at 04:06:54(3390) >Gentle readers, With all due respect and admiration for Mr. Fontanills, the gentleman lives in Miami, for crying out loud! One can root cuttings in Miami by nailing them to the side of the house that would take me chemicals, exotic media, expensive metal halide lighting, humidifiers, RO filtration, and weeks of babysitting here +More in Pennsylvania. I have to work hard to keep Gonatopus alive. Waaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh! (I'm crying out loud.) I've put off visiting southern Florida for 30 years for fear that I would never be able to tear myself away and return home. Kindest envious regards, and sincere congratulations ;-) Walter Greenwood University of Pittsburgh > < -- Quidquid Latine dictum sit, altum viditur.< Dear Walter, I believe that the TRUE significance of Luis' 'feat' may have been lost on some of us. A. konjac does NOT like the tropics, and Walter, had you bloomed it in Pennsylvania, this would not have been notable, as it tends to thrive growing in the Northern Summers, and commonly blooms there in spring, whereas it is said to be HELL to grow, far less to bloom in the warm Southern climes!!! So weep your heart out up in the 'Artic' of Pennsylvania, Walter, (KIDDING!), and we hope you will one day join us living in these balmy climes of S. Florida!!! Congrats, Lois!!!! The "KING STINKY' award is yours to share with Reggie Whitehead for last month, and belongs to Donna`s at Selby for flowering A. titanum this month! Sincerely, Julius ju-bo@msn.com

From: ManFont at aol.com on 1999.05.23 at 04:10:09(3391) In a message dated 5/21/99 6:19:09 PM Eastern Daylight Time, walter@radserv.arad.upmc.edu writes: << Gentle readers, +More With all due respect and admiration for Mr. Fontanills, the gentleman lives in Miami, for crying out loud! One can root cuttings in Miami by nailing them to the side of the house that would take me chemicals, exotic media, expensive metal halide lighting, humidifiers, RO filtration, and weeks of babysitting here in Pennsylvania. I have to work hard to keep Gonatopus alive. Waaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh! (I'm crying out loud.) I've put off visiting southern Florida for 30 years for fear that I would never be able to tear myself away and return home. Kindest envious regards, and sincere congratulations ;-) Walter Greenwood University of Pittsburgh >> Walter, Your post gave me a good laugh ;-) Do you know that my research and a few of our experienced members on this list told me that A. konjac would not thrive in South Florida? ;-) This is due to a required cold dormant period (in winter) not a S. Florida attribute, and our intense heat in the summer being above the species native conditions. Well, I've tried several plants that were not heat tolerant and they never did thrive, so I just did my best with A. konjac. Here are the secrets of my success, though how much to attribute to any one of them including the micro-climate of my little piece of South Florida is unknown (one is a John Riordan clone, and the other a Japanese clone): Potting medium: 70% professional potting mix + 30% 'Oil Dry' (high fired ceramic particles found at auto supply stores). The professional potting mix had a large percentage of decomposed bark and horticultural peat for moisture retention. The 'Oil Dry' provided excellent aeration and weight to steady the pots in our winds. Pot: Terra-cotta (clay) pot. This to increase the aeration of the potting medium. I used typical deep pots as found in a myriad of garden departments. Water: I watered them everyday in the morning with city water. They were kept moist at all times. Fertilizing: I added slow release pellets ('Dynamite' six month time released fertilizer) and would further use 'Miracid' (30-10-10) once a week as a water soluble fertilizer, this to boost the nutrient levels and to keep the pH on the slightly acid side. Our water is very alkaline. Lighting: I placed them under dappled sunlight, under wispy open leafed trees, in order to keep them cooler and to not scorch the leaves in our intense sun. The color of the leaves was a yellowish green due to the high light levels. Some leaf tips did scorch due to the sun, but I felt that pushing it to the limit would accelerate tuber growth. Dormancy: I removed the tubers promptly (and all the offsets) when the plant naturally disengaged (rotted off). I placed them in a dark interior room (no additional cold was provided), we had a very mild winter here in S. Florida, milder than most years. This part worried me the most as it was not the ideal conditions for tuber dormancy based on my investigations. Replanting: Placed in the same conditions as above in the beginning of March. Luis Fontanills Miami, Florida USA

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